And for all you Joni Mitchell fans, I am traveling…
Here’s a video, dateline West Hollywood.
For my readers are never far from my mind and heart!
Then again, I haven’t had much time to think deeply about anything.
Highlight of trip: Carizzo Plain National Monument with dear friends who live in Santa Maria, CA.
Super highlight: stopping in at Immaculate Conception, New Cuyama, CA, a small church on the far edge of the (gigantic) Archdiocese of Los Angeles. The door was open. Red candle burning by the tabernacle. We knelt for a bit, and rested.
Then down to LA, more unbelievably fantastic, generous, and hospitable friends.
I HAD A FEW HOURS HERE TO MYSELF, AND THAT WAS HEAVEN.
Highlight of trip: St. Andrew’s Abbey, Valyermo, CA, walking up hill to cemetery, genuflecting at Oblates section where if all goes well I will one day be laid to rest, striking off in opposite direction, past/through the Monk’s section, picking my way through cactus, agaves and wildflowers, finding rock to sit on, and just think, just pray, just be.
I could only stay a single night, as 2 1/2 months out, rooms for private retreatants were booked almost through December. That was hard. Everything in me longed to rest my head and spirit. Still, the time I did have was heaven: noon Mass, a visit with Fr. Francis Benedict, a stop into the used bookstore (Fr. Walter Ciszek, Catherine de Hueck Doherty, Carlo Carretto–as Fr. Martin pointed out all the convents and monasteries that thrived in the 50s and 60s and that are now closing down are donating their libraries…I love these old stalwarts), Vespers, Compline, and then Vigils and Lauds the next morning. A huge tree outside my window.
Followed by a somewhat scary drive through the Angeles Forest and Angeles Crest Highways (the only thing worse would have been taking the 14, 5, and 215 highways) back into town. Traffic, traffic, traffic. A visit with a dear friend. Silver Lake Ramen (the original location, on Sunset in Silver Lake).
Highlight of trip: 6 pm daily Mass, Thursday, at St. Ambrose in West Hollywood. Seven parishioners, one of whom sat in back the whole time, head in hands. Fr. Dennis, who I remembered from years ago at St. Basil’s in Koreatown, a film buff. Altar banked with lilies, everything shipshape, the world outside rushing, roaring, swirling, oblivious. The red candle burning by the tabernacle.
More friends, more flowers, more noodles and other fab SoCal food, and more Mass ahead.
Monday: The Academy Museum of Motion Pictures!
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